2 Claims. (Cl. 289-17) This invention relates to tools for completing knots and more particularly to a whip finisher for tying articial fishing flies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand tool that is designed to complete the knot that forms the head of hand tied artificial flies, wherein the knots are self securing and do not require the use of cement to secure the knot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand whip finishing tool of the above type wherein the tension of the thread used to tie artificial fishing fiies is automatically controlled and the number of turns made with the tool automatically determines the number of wraps over the loose end of the thread.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hand tool bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a whip finisher tool made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tool shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 2 thereof, a whip finishing tool made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main body portion having a centrally disposed longitudinal bore 11 that is closed at one end by means of a removable top closure 12. The opposite end of the body 10 is adapted to threadingly receive a hollow ferrule 13 to which a thin elongated shank 15 is secured. This shank 15 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 16 that communicates with the longitudinal bore 18 of the ferrule 13 and the longitudinal bore 11 of the main body portion 10.

A tension hook 20 having a rearwardly extending rod 21, is slidably received within the groove 16 and is secured against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shank 15 by means of the engagement of the attached rod 21 within the groove. An annular guide 22 guides the hook 20 for slidable longitudinal movement upon the shank 15 and prevents the parts from binding. A tension spring 23 is disposed within the bore 11 of the main body and has one end secured to the hook 24 at the inner end of the rod 21. The opposite end of the spring is secured to a similar hook 25 secured to the closure member 12. An oval orpalette shaped hackle guard 27 is secured to the outer end of a thin pin 28 that extends outwardly from the shank 15. This hackle guard includes a curved integral winding hook 30 that is in substantial alignment with the tension hook 20.

In use, the tool, is held with the tension and winding hooks pointing upwardly. The thread is hooked over the tension hook 20 and then threaded with the winding hook 30 which is held close to the eye of the fish hook that is to be wrapped. The thread is then held along the side of the fish hook with the left hand and by twisting the tool slightly in a clockwise direction, the winding hook is placed against the fish hook and by continuing the twisting motion, any desired number of wraps may be placed over the thread. In order to tighten the wraps, pressure may be applied to the thread by initially applying pressure to the tension spring before the wraps are started. By maintaining a constant pressure upon the tool, the tension hook 20 will move slowly from its normal position to an extended position 20a as the wraps are applied to the hook. Therefore, control must be exercised to allow sufficient spring travel to complete the desired number of wraps. A tool may be dislodged from the thread by turning the tool in a counter clockwise direction and at the same time prying the winding hook out of engagement with the thread. The thread may then be pulled toward and cut close to the wraps to finish the knot.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A whip finisher tool for completing a knot forming a head of a manually tied artificial shing lure comprising, in combination, a main body portion, a shank extending outwardly from one forward end of said main portion, a thread tension hook adjustably supported upon said shank, a hackle guard secured to the outer extremity of said shank, a winding hook secured to a side of said hackle guard, said shank including a longitudinally extending. groove, said tension hook including a rod slidably supported within said groove, and having a vportion extending radially outwardly therefrom securing said tension hook against rotation of the longitudinal axis of said shank, and a tension spring Within said main body portion connected at one end to said hook and at the opposite end to the opposite rear end of said main body portion normally biasing said tension hook rearwardly in a direction away from said winding hook.

2. The combination according to claim l, wherein said main body includes a central longitudinal bore and said tension spring is disposed within said bore, one end of said spring being connected to said rod and the opposite end of said spring being connected to said main body.